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Golders Green attack suspect named as Essa Suleiman, 45
TL;DR
Essa Suleiman, 45, has been named as the suspect in the Golders Green attack, where two Jewish men were stabbed. He was previously referred to the Prevent counter-extremism scheme but cleared of being a terrorist threat six years prior.
Key points
- Essa Suleiman named as Golders Green attack suspect
- Two Jewish men were stabbed in the attack
- Suleiman was referred to Prevent in 2020 and cleared
- He was arrested on suspicion of murder
- Suleiman came to the UK as a child
Mentioned in this story
Essa SuleimanGolders GreenPrevent
The suspect in the Golders Green attack was referred to Prevent, the official counter-extremism scheme, and cleared of being a terrorist danger six years before two Jewish men were stabbed.
His case was referred to Prevent in 2020 and closed within six weeks by the deradicalisation scheme, which has faced previous criticism for being ineffective.
The Guardian understands that the suspect’s name is Essa Suleiman.
The 45-year-old was arrested by the Metropolitan police on suspicion of murder on Wednesday shortly after the stabbings and is currently in custody.
Suleiman was born in February 1981 and came to the UK as a child.
The attack on Wednesday is being treated as terrorism by police, who are investigating whether the suspect was targeting Jewish people.
In a statement counter-terrorism police said: “We can confirm the suspect was known to the Prevent programme and was subject to a Prevent referral in 2020, which was closed in the same year.
“Given the investigation remains ongoing, we will not be providing any further information in respect of this matter at this time and we remain focused on securing justice for the victims of this attack.”
Prevent relies on people reporting those of concern, whom they believe may be at risk of supporting or carrying out terrorist violence. It is a voluntary scheme that aims to divert people away from offending and from a terrorist conviction.
The Met commissioner, Mark Rowley, has said the man arrested has a history of serious violence and mental health issues. He has previously been admitted to mental health hospitals.
The investigation into the suspect by counter-terrorism police and the security service, MI5, is at an early stage, but officers believe it is most likely that he carried out the north-west London attack alone.
Suleiman previously worked as a Somali translator and as a security guard, sometimes at sports pitches at a school in Wiltshire. He was registered at an address in south London.
The victims of the Golders Green attack were Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76. Video appears to show Shine being attacked at a bus stop.
Police said the suspect was shot with a stun gun to subdue him.
The stabbings, which happened just after 11am on Wednesday, followed a series of arson attacks on Jewish targets in London since March, including two previous incidents in Golders Green.
Counter-terrorism officials are trying to determine which ideology may have triggered Wednesday’s violent attack. Both an Iran-linked group and Islamic State have supported violence against Jews.
Q&A
Who is Essa Suleiman and what is his background?
Essa Suleiman is a 45-year-old suspect in the Golders Green attack, born in February 1981 and came to the UK as a child.
What happened during the Golders Green attack?
The Golders Green attack involved the stabbing of two Jewish men, leading to the arrest of Essa Suleiman on suspicion of murder.
Why was Essa Suleiman referred to the Prevent scheme?
Essa Suleiman was referred to the Prevent counter-extremism scheme in 2020 but was cleared of being a terrorist danger within six weeks.
